Introducing Kirk MacGregor’s article, Priscilla Papers editor Jeff Miller affirms “a central purpose of academic journals—to foster scholarly discussion and thereby move toward the truth of important and difficult matters.”1 First Corinthians 14 contains the only passage in the Bible that at face value silences women or restricts their ministry in the churches. It is important for all who believe what Scripture teaches to understand the truth about this passage.
Neither the position I advocate, that 14:34–35 is a reader-added marginal comment (“gloss”), nor MacGregor’s position, that 14:33b–35 quotes the Corinthian men’s position that Paul then refutes, attributes the silencing of women to Paul. This does not mean, however, that either position should be accepted without adequate evidence.
Read more

This passage is used as a key building block in theologies portraying gender hierarchy as God’s will. This is while the exegetes offer very contradictory interpretations of the text, typically concluding that Paul was not very logical in his argumentation or alternatively parts of the challenging text are simply ignored. In this workshop, an interpretation is presented that assumes that Paul is logical in his argumentation. The passage starts to make sense, when a) the conflict in Corinth is understood as one between social classes – also among different classes of women, b) we realize that the head-coverings and hairdos showed the social status of the person – and status conflicts were the big issue in Corinth overall, c) we notice that the punctuation marks have been added much later and can be ignored. The text is given a natural interpretation as Paul’s Christ-centered response simultaneously to all the conflicting parties, that consist of women in conflict amongst themselves, men in conflict amongst themselves, and conflicts between genders. The workshop offers the participants an opportunity to discuss themes according to their interests relating to the details of the passage, its meaning, the culture of Paul’s time and even Paul’s theology or challenges of exegetical research more widely, also regarding the women’s passages.
Read more

The challenging complexity of the ministry of Bible translation should spark humility, among translators themselves and among those who critique them. I pledge to keep such humility in mind as I describe four types of shortcomings that can be found in Bible translations, using 1 Corinthians 14:34–35 as a test case.
Read more

Dr. Westfall briefly introduces her book, Paul and Gender, which was released November 15, 2016. She talks about some of the book's unique contributions, where they came from, and how they impact the interpretation of key passages. She focuses on 1 Corinthians 11:3-18 and veiling and submission; 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 and women keeping silent; and Ephesians 5:21-33 and headship and submission in marriage.
Read more

How can we better serve and inform a growing diverse community with an egalitarian theology message that is clearly understood? What are better ways to create bridges of conversation that are not intrusive or divisive? What are the unspoken needs that we are ignoring, dismissing, or unaware of within our own communities?
Read more

Before we get too far into this sermon, I need to say one thing: my brother had it coming. So none of this is my fault. Well, not entirely my fault. It might be his fault. Or my parents’ fault, even, for the whole thing started because they had the audacity to sell their house. The one we had was fine. I had my own space there, away from my brothers—a nice reading spot, a shelf full of books, and plenty of room for my favorite pastime: minding my own business.
Read more

Craig Keener's 1-2 Corinthians is a wonderfully engaging and easily read commentary on Paul's letters to the Corinthians. It is tightly packed with documented information from ancient sources on the historical/social/cultural setting of Corinth in Paul's time. This information enables the reader to understand more clearly the intentions behind Paul's letters to the Corinthians, underlining how the cultural emphasis on rhetoric in Paul's time shaped his writings.
Read more

C. F. D. Moule wrote that the problems raised by 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 “still await a really convincing explanation.” G. B. Caird added, “It can hardly be said that the passage has yet surrendered its secret.” W. Meeks regarded it as “one of the most obscure passages in the Pauline letters.”
Read more